Any chance someone can post a guide on setting up and using the new pc bridgeboard emulation features, settings and all?

(I don't do guides but..)

Good starting point is A2088 manual. Sidecar has too many jumpers, A2088 (or A2286) is probably easiest to configure, BIOS does most of the configuration automatically. Don't use A2386SX, it is still too buggy.

You are expected to know DOS. Most of us probably have tried to forget that DOS even existed...

Most settings are exact same as real bridgeboard jumpers, there isn't any interesting emulation specific config settings except cpu core and any of them most likely work with normal dos programs.

If you aren't sure if bridgeboard is booting, run with log window open (-log command line parameter), BIOS is doing initial self tests if you see "BIOS DIAGNOSTICS CODE: xx ~zz" messages (BIOS self test phases) in the log window.

If you want to boot dos from HD:

AT PCs (A2286+) have AT IDE support in BIOS. HDF can be added by enabling AT IDE Primary controller under IDE extensions and adding a HDF. (In real world this equals adding IDE ISA card to bridgeboard ISA slot)

Previous models need HD controller with boot BIOS. XTIDE universal bios compatible HD controller can be used with A2086 and older boards. BIOS can be found from the internet.

Bridgeboard specific option is to create harddrive image in Amiga side and let Janus bridge magic to create virtual HD in PC side. (I haven't tried it this yet, it seems too boring..)

Any chance someone can post a guide on setting up and using the new pc bridgeboard emulation features, settings and all?

I haven't really get around in trying bridgeboard emulation (still have to worry about Kickstart 1.4 dual booting first, then a little bit of AMIX stuff), but I think this is how it goes: (I'm going to use 2088 as an example)

1. Start a new config and call it something like "2088 Bridgeboard"
2. You need to go into the Expansions tab and then where it says "SCSI Controllers", click the arrow and select "x86 Bridgeboards" from the list, then select "A2088 (Commodore)" from the list below.
3. In the empty box to the right, choose the appropriate BIOS file. Toni should have uploaded these to the Zone already.
4. In the box below "A2088 (Commodore)", you have several options that let you set the memory, video mode (mono or color), and the CPU core. You also have the option of enabling the FPU, but make sure you select DOSBox as the core. WinUAE will always remember the values you set, so you don't need to worry about the emulator removing any previous values while you are working your way down the list.
5. Once your config matches A2000, A3000, or A4000 hardware, start it up and you are ready to go.

No, my next step to understand how to use an HD controller with XTIDE universal bios for the A2086 Bridgboard expansion.

There is nothing to understand

RAM=D000 should be selected in PCPrefs program.

Download bios, enable board, set bios. Add HDF. It works if you see some new messages in BIOS boot screen. (Don't attempt to use MSDOS HDF formatted using some other controller, I don't think they are compatible)

Was not important, the brain is like any other muscle, seeking to hold him in good shape, so it will be less headache.

EDIT:
as a good exercise for the brain ... an attempt to learn Japanese characters Hiragana and Katakana (from my own experience I can tell you that will not be easy, but if you're persistent enough you will succeed ... it took a week to convince my own brain to something new and unusual, until he finally accepted that I was more persistent than him)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arnie

I don't like fishing....just give me the fish

Jesus didn't hand out fishing rods now did he!

this proverb: "give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime"